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Georgia Dems want to boost min. wage, education spending

ATLANTA – Senate Democrats made no apologies Thursday for drafting an ambitious wish list for the current legislative session.

“You never win a battle sitting down,” said Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta. “You have to get up and engage.”

Among this year’s priorities for the minority caucus are completing some left over from last year, such as convincing Republicans to expand Medicaid, boosting the HOPE Scholarship and increased spending for teachers and public education.

Although Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed adding more than a half-billion dollars to the education budget, Democrats say he should do more.

Adding to the list this year is automatic voter registration and doubling the state’s $5.15 minimum hourly wage.

Orrock said any time documents are submitted to the government with name, age and address, that person should automatically be registered to vote, including getting a car tag or enrolling in college.

“Who could be against broad civic engagement?” she asked.

The minimum-wage hike is part of Democrats’ national agenda.

“That’s what we want to do in Georgia, just to make sure working families can afford to live and be comfortable,” said Sen. Donzella James, D-Atlanta.

Minority Leader Steve Henson of Tucker rejected warnings that small employers would either go broke or eliminate jobs.